Vinroot Opts Against Runoff, Giving Ballantine GOP Nomination

WRAT-TV Raleigh ^ | 7/22/2004 | WRAL-TV Staff

[Prospero]

RALEIGH,N.C. -- Richard Vinroot announced Thursday afternoon that he will not call for a runoff in the GOP Gubernatorial election, thus handing the Republican nomination to primary winner Patrick Ballantine.

[Prospero]

Now on to beat "Tax Hike Mike."

[Tax-chick]

Whoop!

[mykdsmom]

I want to throw Sleazley OUT of the Governor's mansion so bad. I can't imagine not flipping the bird every time I drive by it.

Go Patrick!!!!!!

MKM

[zbigreddogz]

Hmm. Interesting. I wonder if this was his real reason. I also wonder if he's right that this will help the R's. Anyhow, I'll just hope that it is and it will.

Go NC Freepers, get the D out of there.

[ambrose]

Hmm. Interesting. I wonder if this was his real reason.

[Lancey Howard]

Somebody ping Howlin. This will thrill him.

Her.

[Howlin]

It sure does!!!

And I'm a gull!

[Howlin]

I also wonder if he's right that this will help the R's

We are UNITED and we are EXCITED!!!!

[Prospero]

[alancarp]

Hats off to Richard Vinroot.

[bigeasy_70118]

Ballantine is the GOP's Harold Ford. He has a bright future in politics. I suspect he may not win but even so, this won't be the last we hear of him. He'll probably run against the corpse of Erskine Bowles for Senate in 2012.

[NeoCaveman]

Go Pat Go

[Prospero]

[Prospero]

I say Huzzah, Three Cheers, sir, to a Gentleman: Richard Vinroot!

[jbwbubba]

I am stunned, Vinroot seemed ready for battle Tuesday night, he already started attacking Ballatine. I wonder if they started polling and Vinroot saw he didn't have a chance. That are someone higher up told him to pack it in

[JohnnyZ]

Thank you for posting the picture of Pat and his female clone daughter. Some people don't believe me when I say they're virtually identical!

[HIDEK6]

Wow!

Please forgive me for sharing this little item.

I was conflicted as to whether even vote in this primary. After all, I am registered independent, and as such theoretically have no interest in who each party runs. However, I wanted to see Ballantine run against Easley because I didn't think Vinroot could win. And I truly hate Democrats.

So about a half hour before the polls would close, I drag myself out of the house, request the R ballot, and vote for Ballantine.

The first news I heard was that the vote was close enough for a runoff, with Vinroot leading Ballantine by a small margin.

Now I find out that Ballantine actually won!

And by 1600 votes statewide!

I think my vote did count, especially when you think that another 1599 people probably did the same thing I did.

[Prospero]

She's a pistol, too.